A printable worksheet for news-based English conversation classes.
Date: 2025/01/07
Difficulty: Intermediate B1
PDF: Japan's lucky bags offer New Year surprises
| tradition • | • tastes |
| outlet • | • special |
| limited-edition • | • custom |
| flavours • | • trinkets |
| coupons • | • vouchers |
| charms • | • store |
| tradition | custom |
| outlet | store |
| limited-edition | special |
| flavours | tastes |
| coupons | vouchers |
| charms | trinkets |
Japan's fukubukuro (lucky bags) are a New Year tradition, offering great deals and surprises. This year, the Häagen-Dazs lucky bag stood out, especially for ice cream lovers. Sold at the brand's Gotemba outlet store, the 2,550-yen bag included 14 mini tubs, with limited-edition flavours from 2023, like Pistachio & Cacao and Matcha Azuki. Each tub cost about half the usual price, making it an amazing deal.
Other exciting lucky bags included McDonald's, with coupons and a Big Mac lantern, and Starbucks, offering coffee, drink tickets, and stylish bottles. Muji's Fukukan featured handcrafted charms, while Family Mart's bag included socks, an Imabari towel, and a soft T-shirt. These bags make New Year shopping in Japan a treat!
| A: | Did you see the Häagen-Dazs lucky bag this year? |
| B: | Yeah, I got one! So many ice cream tubs inside. |
| A: | I heard they had special flavors too. |
| B: | Yes, like Pistachio & Cacao. Delicious! |
| A: | I went for the McDonald's bag. Got a Big Mac lantern! |
| B: | That sounds fun! Maybe I'll try that next year. |